Donato is the son of former Bruins forward and current Harvard coach Ted Donato, a fifth-round pick of Boston in 1987.

The 18-year-old Ryan Donato, a left shot listed at 6-foot and 176 pounds, was born in Boston and hung around the Bruins as a kid.

"I felt like a Bruin long before putting on this jersey today," he told reporters in Philadelphia after being selected.

Donato has played at Dexter School in Brookline the last three years. He scored 37 goals and 41 assists last season in 30 games, playing mostly at center. In three high school seasons he has put up totals of 80 goals and 174 points in 83 games.

Donato is slated to play for his father with the Crimson beginning in the 2015-16 season. He has a choice for the coming year, either continuing his career at Dexter or heading to the USHL to play juniors. The Omaha Lancers have his USHL rights.